Purim: You Never Know When You’ll Be Called Upon

Rabbi Jamie wears several hats, one of which is for whom she wrote this column.

Image credit: Lilian Broca

Many think of Purim, which begins at sundown on Monday, as a joyous holiday celebrated with carnivals, hamantaschen (cookies that look like hats), and costume parties. It is all of that, but it’s also a more complex holiday, layered with themes of antisemitism, revenge, the objectification of women, and behind-the-scenes politics.

Yet behind-the-scenes politics are not necessarily a bad thing. Queen Esther, the heroine of Purim, is a beautiful Jewish woman who marries Achashverosh, the King of Persia, after he banishes his first wife for refusing to display her beauty before his drunken partygoers. At the guidance of her guardian Mordechai, Esther keeps her Jewish ancestry a secret.

לֹא־הִגִּ֣ידָה אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֶת־עַמָּ֖הּ וְאֶת־מֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּ כִּ֧י מׇרְדֳּכַ֛י צִוָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־תַגִּֽיד Esther did not reveal her people or her kindred, for Mordechai had told her not to reveal it.

As the Purim story unfolds, the plot darkens. The evil Haman, a high-ranking officer who was a powerful advisor to the King, schemes to destroy the Jewish people. Esther is called upon to stand up for her community and reveal to her smitten husband that she herself is Jewish. With that revelation, the tables are turned on Haman, and King Achashverosh chooses his wife and what she values (i.e., the well-being of her people) over the urgings of his advisor. Esther’s courage saves the lives of Jews throughout the entire kingdom.

Standing up for others in their time of need is central to the model of a free loan society like Hebrew Free Loan. Our work is possible through the partnership of our board and committee members, donors, guarantors, and staff. Guarantors are those who vouch for loan recipients and promise to stand behind their loans. Guarantors are less often in the spotlight than some of these other groups, but they are just as vital as our agency leaders, donors, volunteers, and staff. We could not function without them. Our guarantors are ordinary people who do the extraordinary. When called upon to be the hero of a friend’s or relative’s story by vouching for their loan, or even paying it back themselves in those rare situations where the recipient can’t, they answer the call with hineini, here I am.

We don’t always know when we will be called upon to help or what actions we will be called upon to carry out. Sometimes the call is dramatic. Someone collapses in front of you, and you do what is necessary to save their life. Sometimes the call is quieter. A friend asks you for an introduction or a recommendation. LinkedIn, the professional networking site, is built on the idea that we are all connected to people who know people, and that we can open doors and create opportunities for each other when the time is right.

So, thank you to the thousands of guarantors who have helped so many in their time of need. You carry forth the legacy of Queen Esther by standing up for your people when it matters most.

Chag Purim sameach, happy Purim.

Rabbi Jamie